2018 Colgin, IX Estate, Napa Valley, California, USA

Another perfect wine, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon IX Estate is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, all from the estate on Pritchard Hill. A monster of a wine that needs serious bottle age, it reveals a dense purple hue as well as a mineral-drenched bouquet of pure crème de cassis, charcoal, spring flowers, tobacco, and earth. Just incredible on the palate, it’s full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with remarkable purity and a finish that won’t quit. Cabernet – or red wine for that matter – doesn’t get any better! It needs a solid 5-7 years of bottle age. but this legendary wine will see its 50th birthday in fine form.Drink 2026 - 2068jeb_dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com (Jan 2021)

A broad, lush style, with a big wave of warmed cassis and plum reduction flavors rolling through, yet this settles relatively gently rather than crashing through the finish, thanks to well-embedded, loamy grip and an alluring backdrop of roasted alder_yarrow, bay leaf and licorice root notes. A wine that walks softly but carries a big stick. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 1,650 cases made.james_molesworth, Wine Spectator (Oct 2021)

The 2018 IX Estate is dense, powerful and brooding. Inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, spice infuse the IX Estate with tremendous character. All of the savory intensity that is typical of this site comes through, and yet the richness of the fruit is palpable. Readers will find an exciting, viscerally thrilling wine that hits all the right notes. In 2018, the IX Estate is truly lights out. It is also the darkest and most concentrated of the three Cabernet Sauvignon wines.Drink 2024 - 2043antonio_galloni, Vinous.com.com (Jan 2021)

Extraordinary aromas of black truffles, blackberries, bark and violets. Essence of blackberries. Then it goes to crushed stones and pine needles. Aromatic perfection. Full-bodied with well framed tannins and beautiful dark fruit. Superb finish and intensity. Mountain character. Tannic at the end. Cooler and fresher undertone. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc, 8% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2027.james_suckling, jamessuckling_com (Aug 2021)

The 2018 IX Estate is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal earth and mineral scents of iron ore, tilled soil, forest floor and truffles with ripe red and black currants, kirsch, Black Forest cake and mulberries plus nuances of tar, lilacs and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and exhilarating freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit. Mineral and savory accents linger long into the epic finish. A thought-provoking, pensive, mesmerizing wine.Drink 2024 - 2064Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Nov 2020)